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San  Pedro,  Los  Angeles  & 
Salt  Lake  K.  R, 


A  DESCRIPTION 


OF  THE 


GREAT  TEMPLE 

SALT  LAKE  CITY. 


AND 


A  Statement    Concerning  the  Purposes  for  Which 
It  Has  Been  Built. 


BY 

D.  M.I  McAllister. 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

BUREAU  OF  INFORMATION 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


Second  Edition  1909. 


COPYRIGHTED    BY 

JOSEPH  F.  SMITH 

FOR 

The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- Day  Saints 
October,  1904 


[109 


0I|?  i§0U0^  0f  tl|^  Snri,  Sutlt  bg  111?  QII|urrly  nf 
3?j0ua  CHirtBt  nf  Halttr-iag  S>atntB.  QIommrnrFb 
April  )a,  1B53;  (Unmiiklfb  Ajiril  %.  1803. 


(Above  are  the  words  inscribed  on  a  stone 
tablet  on  the  east  center  tower  of  the  Temple) . 


No  object  in  Salt  Lake  City  excites  greater  interest 
in  the  minds  of  strangers  than  the  Temple,  which  has 
been  erected  here  by  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints.  It  elicits  expressions  of  wonderment  because 
of  its  beautiful  yet  massive  proportions,  unique  architec- 
ture, and  evident  costliness.  Numerous  questions  are 
asked  concerning  the  structure,  the  purposes  for  which 
it  has  been  built,  and  why  none  but  members  of  the 
Church  are  permitted  to  enter  its  precincts.  This  hand- 
book has  been  compiled,  from  authentic  sources,  to  satisfy 
all  reasonable  inquiries  in  relation  to  these  matters. 

HISTORY   OF  THE    BUILDING. 

Four  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  Pioneers  on  the 
barren  site  of  this  now  lovely  city,  July  28th,  1847,  Pre- 
sident  Brigham    Young,    while    walking   over    the    ground 


with  some  of  his  associates,  suddenly  stopped  and,  striking 
the  point  of  his  cane  into  the  parched  soil,  exclaimed, 
"Here  we  will  build  the  Temple  of  our  God."  ^  His  pro- 
phetic words  were  noted  by  his  companions,  and  Apostle 
(afterward  President)  Wilford  Woodruff  drove  a  wooden 
stake  into  the  small  hole  made  by  the  point  of  President 
Young's  cane.  On  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  ten 
acres  selected  for  the  Temple  Block  were  marked  out, 
and  it  was  decided  that  the  future  city  should  surround 
that   square. 

In  April,  1851,  the  members  of  the  Church — assembled 
in  general  conference — voted  unanimously  to  build  the 
Temple.  •  February  14,  1853,  after  the  site  for  the  great 
structure  was  surveyed,  the  block  was  solemnly  dedicated, 
and  ground  broken  for  the  foundation  of  the  Temple. 
On  April  6th  of  the  same  year,  the  corner  stones  of  the 
Temple  were  laid,  with  impressive  ceremonies,  amid  great 
rejoicing  of  the  assembled  multitude. 

Unknown  to  those  who  surveyed  the  site  for  the 
building,  the  wooden  stake  driven  into  the  ground  by 
Wilford  Woodruff,  on  the  28th  of  July,  1847,  marked  the 
centre  of  the  plot  laid  out  by  them. 

It  should  ever  be  remembered  that  this  magnificent 
structure  was  planned,  and  its  erection  begun,  by  a 
small  number  of  despoiled  and  destitute  people,  at  a 
time  when  they  were  struggling  for  existence  in  the  midst 
of  adverse  surroundings.  We  shall  not  enumerate  the 
many  seemingly  insurmountable  obstacles,  which,  from 
time  to  time,  hindered  the  progress  of  the  stupendous 
undertaking;  but  it  may  well  be  said  that  the  completed 
Temple  is  a  monument  of  faith  and  work  unparalleled  in 
the  world's  history. 

The  Temple  is  built  of  gray  granite  taken  from  a 
mountain  of  that  enduring  material  at  the  mouth  of  Little 
Cottonwood  canyon,  twenty  miles  south-east  of  the  city. 
Many  of  the  blocks  of  granite  in  the  walls  are  so  large 
that  four   yoke   of  oxen   were   required   to   haul    each   of 

2 


them,  occupying  four  days  in  transit.  This  process  of 
hauling  rock  by  ox-teams,  from  the  quarry  to  the  Temple 
site,  was  so  slow  and  expensive  that  President  Young 
decided  to  have  a  canal  constructed  to  carry  the  rock 
by  boats.  Accordingly,  the  canal  was  dug,  at  great  cost, 
from  the  mouth  of  Little  Cottonwood  Canyon  across  the 
bench  land,  to  an  outlet  in  City  Creek,  near  the  Temple 
block.  But  in  1873,  before  the  canal  was  sufficiently  com- 
pleted to  be  made  available  for  the  main  purpose  in 
view,  a  line  of  railroad  was  laid  which  supplanted  this 
contemplated  use  of  the  canal.  The  latter  has  since  been 
used  to  great  advantage  in  conveying  a  large  supply  of 
water  from  Jordan  River  to  the  City. 


DIMENSIONS. 

Some  idea  of  the  massiveness  of  the  building,  and  of  the 
enormous  amount  of  rock  used  in  its  construction,  may 
be  obtained  from  the  following  figures:  Foundation,  or 
footing  wall,  sixteen  feet  wide  and  eight  feet  deep; 
basement  walls,  eight  feet  thick;  upper  story  walls,  six 
feet  thick.  The  extreme  length  of  the  building  is  1861/^ 
feet;  extreme  width,  IIS^/^  feet.  Height  of  side  walls  on 
main  building  107 1^  feet;  east  center  tower  210  feet  high; 
west  center  tower  204  feet.  Inverted  arches  are  con- 
structed in  the  foundation,  to  distribute  evenly  the 
enormous  pressure  of  the  massive  walls.  The  entire  area 
is  21,850  feet. 


ARCHITECTURAL    FEATURES. 

The  architecture  of  the  Temple  is  composite  and 
original.  The  six  towers,  three  on  the  east  and  three  on 
the  west,  are  built  entirely  of  granite.  Within  each  of  the 
four  corner  towers  there  is  a  spiral  staircase.  There  are 
172   granite   steps,   and   four   landings,    in   each   of  these 

3 


stairways.  Each  step  is 
six  feet  long,  and  weighs 
over  1,700  pounds. 

On  the  capstone  of  the 
east  centre  tow^er  is  a 
hammered  copper  statue, 
twelve  feet  five  and  one- 
half  inches  in  height, 
heavily  gilded  with  pure 
gold  leaf.  It  represents 
the  angel  Moroni  blowing  a 
trumpet,  proclaiming  the 
restoration  of  the  Gospel. 
(See  Book  of  Mormon.) 

The     largest     dressed 

rocks   in  the  building  are 

known      as      the      "Earth 

Stones."     They   are   at   the   base   of   the   buttresses,    near 

the   level   of  the   ground,    on   each   side   of  the   basement 

windows,  thirty-lour  of  them  in  all.     Each  of  these  blocks 

of  granite  is  five  and  one-half  feet  high,  four  and  one- 
half  feet  wide,  and  twenty  inches  thick,  and  weighs  over 
three  tons.  On  each  of  them  is  carved,  in  bas-relief, 
a  globe  three  feet  eleven  inches  in  diameter  They 
cost,  when  finished,  about  $300.00  each. 

The  'Moon  Stones,"  fifty  in  number,  are  inserted 
in  the  buttresses  in  line  with  the  top  of  the  first  row 
of  oval  windows.  These  stones  are  carved  to  represent 
the  different  phases  of  the  moon. 

On  the  buttresses  above  the  "Moon  Stones,"  in  line 
with  the  top  of  the  upper  row  of  oval  windows,  are  the 
"Sun  Stones,"  fifty  in  number. 

Nearly  all  the  keystones  of  the  windows  and  doors 
in  the  building  are  ornamented  with  a  beautifully  cut 
five-pointed  star.  There  are  also  stars  carved  on  the 
face  of  a  large  number  of  other  granite  stones  prominent 
in  various  parts  of  the  structure. 

On  the  facade  of  the  middle  tower  at  the  west  end 
of  the   building,   in   line   with   the   battlements,   is  carved 

4 


the  seven  stars  forming  the  constellation  of  Ursa  Major, 
the  Great  Bear,  or  Dipper,  with  the  pointers  directed,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  toward  the  North  Star. 

The  keystones  of  the  lower  windows  of  the  east  and 
west  centre  towers  have  inscribed  on  them  the  words  of 
the  Lord,  "I  am  Alpha  and  Omega."  Below  these  key- 
stones is  carved  the  emblem  of  Clasped  Hands,  and  on 
the  stones  at  the  top  of  the  upper  windows  in  the  same 
towers  is  depicted  the  awe-inspiring  symbol  of  the  All- 
seeing  Eye. 

At  the  top  of  the  buttresses  of  the  east  centre  tower 
are  carved  representations  of  rays  of  light  emanating  from 
clouds. 


EMBLEMATICAL  SIGNIFICANCE. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  note  the  meaning  that  the 
I/atter-day  Saints  attach  to  some  of  the  architecturaJ 
features  herein  described. 

The  three  towers  at  the  eastern  end,  or  front,  of  the 
building  are  each  six  feet  higher  than  the  corresponding 
towers  at  the  west  end.  These  three  eastern  towers  rep- 
resent the  three  Presiding  High  Priests  of  the  Church, 
who  constitute  the  First  Presidency,  whose  special  prov- 
ince it  is  to  supervise  the  spiritual  affairs  of  the  Church. 
In  like  manner,  the  three  towers  at  the  west  end  represent 
the  Presiding  Bishopric  of  the  Church,  whose  duty  it  is 
to  supervise  its  temporal  interests. 

The  angel  Moroni,  whose  statue  crowns  the  highest 
pinnacle  of  the  Temple,  was  the  heavenly  messenger  who 
appeared  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  proclaiming  the 
re-establishment  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  this  age,  and 
gave  to  him  the  plates  of  the  Book  of  Mormon,  which 
book  contains  the  fullness  of  the  Everlasting  Gospel. 
The  coming  of  Moroni  marked  the  fulfillment  of  the  pro- 
phecy contained  in  Rev.  14: 


6.  And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach 
unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every 
nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people. 

7.  Saying  with  a  loud  voice.  Fear  God,  and 
give  glory  to  him;  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment  is 
come:  and  worship  him  that  made  heaven,  and 
earth,  and  the  sea.  and  the  fountains  of  waters. 

The  stones  representing  rays  of  light  streaming  from 

the   midst   of  clouds   indicate   Gospel   light   dispelling   the 

clouds  of  error  which  had  enshrouded  the  world,  Isaiah  60: 

2.  For.  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover  the 
earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people:  but  the  Lord 
shall  arise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be  seen 
upon  thee. 

The  stones  representing  the  sun,  earth,  moon,  and 
numerous  stars,  are  allegorical  emblems  of  the  conditions 
to  which  the  resurrected  souls  of  mankind  will  be  assigned, 
when  all  are  judged  "according  to  their  w^orks."    1  Cor.  15: 

40.  There  are  also  celestial  bodies,  and  bodies 
terrestrial:  but  the  glory  of  the  celestial  is  one.  and 
the  glory  of  the  terrestrial  is  another. 

41.  There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun.  and  another 
glorj'  of  the  moon,  and  another  glory  of  the  stars: 
for  one  star  differeth  from  another  star  in  glory. 

42.  So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. 

Rev.  20: 

12.  And  I  .saw  the  dead,  small  and  great,  stand 
before  God;  and  the  books  were  opened:  and  an- 
other book  was  opened,  which  is  the  book  of  life: 
and  the  dead  were  judged  out  of  those  things  which 
were  written  in  the  books,  according  to  their  works. 

13.  And  the  sea  gave  up  the  dead  which  were 
in  it;  and  death  and  hell  delivered  up  the  dead 
which  were  in  them:  and  they  were  judged  every 
man  according  to  their  works. 

The  depicted  constellation  of  Ursa  Major,  with  the 
pointers  directed  to  the  North  Star,  is  intended  to  remind 
those  in  doubt  concerning  the  true  way,  that  they  should 
follow  the  path  indicated  by  the  Priesthood. 

The  Clasped  Hands  are  emblematic  of  the  strong 
union  and  brotherly  love  characteristic  of  Latter-day 
Saints,  through  which  they  have  been  enabled  to  accom- 
plish so  much  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  grand  truth  recorded  in  the  Scriptures,  "The  eyes 
of  the  Lord  are  in  every  place,  beholding  the  evil  and  the 
good,"  is  expressed  by  the  symbol  of  the  All-seeing  Eye. 
This,  with  the  words  "Holiness  to  the  Lord"  under  it.  is 
often  seen  on  buildings  owned  by  Latter-day  Saints. 


ADJOINING   BUILDINGS. 

Before  proceeding  to  describe  the  interior  of  tlie 
Temple,  we  call  attention  to  two  other  structures  within 
the  subdivision  of  the  block  where  the  Temple  is  en- 
closed. 

The  neat  stone  building  located  near  the  centre  of 
the  north  wall  of  the  block,  having  an  ornamental  smoke 
stack  attached  to  it,  is  the  boiler-house.  The  boilers  are 
underground,  and  they  supply  steam  for  heating  all  the 
buildings  on  the  Temple  block.  It  will  be  observed  that 
this  boiler-house  is  about  two  hundred  feet  distant  from 
the  Temple,  thus  insuring  safety  from  fire. 


Under  the  level  of  the  ground,  at  the  west  end  of 
the  Temple,  is  the  engineer's  room,  in  which  is  located 
the  electrical  switchboard  and  transformers;  these  pro- 
vide light  and  power  for  all  the  buildings  on  the  Temple 
block. 

The  elegant  white  stone  building,  of  oriental  archi- 
tectural design,  situated  about  one  hundred  feet  north  of 
the  Temple,  is  named  the  4nnex;   and  therein  the  people 


assemble  before  they  are  permitted  to  go  into  the  Temple. 
The  doorkeeper  and  recorders  have  offices  in  the  annex. 
Each  individual  who  desires  to  enter  the  Temple  is 
required  to  present  necessary  credentials,  signed  by  his 
respective  Bishop  and  Stake  President,  certifying  that  he 
is  worthy  of  that  great  privilege. 

At  9  a.  m.,  four  days  weekly,  preparatory  services 
are  held  in  a  commodious  assembly  hall  in  the  annex; 
after  which  those  who  are  to  participate  in  the  sacred 
ordinances  of  the  Temple,  generally  numbering  about  two 
hundred  persons,  descend  a  staircase  into  a  well-lighted 
passage  way,  where  they  remove  the  shoes  worn  out-of- 
doors,  and  they  are  then  ushered  into  the  splendid  rooms  of 
the   Temple  basement. 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    TEMPLE. 

A  wide  and  lofty  corridor  extends  the  entire  width 
of  the  basement,  in  the  centre  of  the  building,  from  north 
to  south.  At  the  south  end  of  this  corridor  is  a  handsome 
staircase,  the  posts,  rails,  and  wainscoting  of  which  are 
solid,  polished  cherry  wood.  The  various  rooms  of  the 
basement  are  reached  from  the  corridor.  Spacious  bath 
and  dressing  rooms,  for  men  only,  are  located  along  the 
north-west  side.  Similar  rooms,  for  women  only,  are  on 
the  south-west  side.  Intervening,  and  entirely  separating 
these  two  sets  of  rooms,  is  the  magnificent  baptismal  font 
room  of  the  Temple,  fifty-seven  feet  long  by  thirty-five 
feet  wide. 

The  distinctive  feature  of  this  room  is  the  font  itself. 
In  some  respects  it  resembles  the  "molten  sea '  of  Solo- 
mon's Temple,  described  in  I.  Kings,  vii.,  23  to  26.  This 
in  the  Salt  Lake  Temple  is,  probably,  equally  beautiful. 
It  is  cast  iron,  elliptical  in  form,  and  of  ample  dimensions 
in  length,  width,  and  depth  to  contain  an  abundant  supply 
of  water  in  which  the  officiating  Elder  can  submerge  the 
individual  who  acts  as  proxy  in  the  ordinance  of  baptism 

9 


for  the  dead.  It  rests  upon  the  backs  of  twelve  life-size, 
cast  iron,  bronzed  oxen,  which  stand  in  an  excavated  de- 
pression about  three  feet  below  the  level  of  the  floor, 
in  the  centre  of  the  room.  There  is  a  flight  of  iron  steps 
at  the  east  and  west  ends  of  the  font,  from  the  floor  to 
its  rim,  connecting  with  steps  "leading  down  into  the 
water.  The  elegance  of  the  castings,  enameling,  gilding, 
and  other  ornamentation  and  appointments  connected  with 
the  font,  and  the  room  in  which  it  is  placed,  makes  the 
whole   surpassingly   grand. 

There  are  two  assembly  rooms  on  the  east  side  of  the 
corridor,  each  about  forty  by  forty-five  feet,  with  opera 
chair  seats  in  each  for  two  hundred  persons.  The  room  to 
the  north  is  quite  plain  in  its  finishings,  but  the  one  on  the 
south  is  splendidly  frescoed,  the  ceiling  painted  to  rep- 
resent the  firmament,  and  the  walls  displaying  beautiful 
landscapes.  At  the  south  side  of  this  room  are  openings 
into  a  large  conservatory  of  lovely  flowering  plants. 

On  the  floor  above  the  basement,  which  is  reached  by 
the  grand  staircase  from  the  corridor  below,  there  are 
three  large  rooms,  and  a  number  smaller,  all  of  which 
are  beautifully  decorated,  and  furnished  at  great  cost.  On 
the  wall  of  the  hall-landing  on  this  floor  is  a  large  oil 
painting,  twelve  by  eighteen  feet,  painted  by  Armitage, 
depicting  a  Book  of  Mormon  subject, — Christ  preaching  to 
the  Nephites.  A  companion  picture  to  this  is  in  the  hall 
below,  and  the  subject  is  Joseph  Smith  preaching  to  a 
tribe   of   Indians. 

The  walls  of  the  large  room  on  the  south-west  of  this 
floor  are  painted  in  landscape  scenes,  differing  in  char- 
acter from  those  on  the  walls  of  the  room  below.  The 
splendid  chandeliers,  furnishings,  and  decorations  make 
this  an  elegant  assembly  room.  It  is  surpassed,  however, 
by  the  other  large  room  on  the  north-west.  In  this  white 
and  gold  is  the  predominating  feature  of  the  beautifully 
decorated  ceiling,  cornice,  and  walls.  It  can  be  brilliantly 
illuminated,  when  desired,  by  the  handsome  chandeliers 
and  great  number  of  electric  lights.     A  very  large  mirror 

10 


covers  a  section  of  the  west  end. of  the  room.  The  seats 
are  finely  upholstered,  rich  curtains  hang  at  the  windows, 
and    splendid    paintings    adorn    the   walls. 

Across  the  entire  east  end  of  the  room  just  described, 
is  an  archway,  which  connects  it  with  the  north-east  room. 
Ascending  a  few  steps,  we  push  the  curtain  aside  and 
pass  into  the  most  magnificent  room  in  the  Temple. 
It  is  larger  and  more  lofty  than  either  of  the  others. 
Grecian  columns  are  ranged  along  the  sides,  supporting  an 
arched  roof.  A  double  row  of  windows  gives  abundant 
light;  the  upper  row  is  of  stained  glass,  semi-circular  in 
form.  Immense  plate-glass  mirrors  cover  the  east  walls. 
Above  the  mirrors  are  two  splendid  oil  paintings  by  Lam- 
bourne,  representing  historic  spots,  the  Hill  Cumorah,  and 
Adam-Ondi-Ahman.  Decorative  artists  of  great  skill  have 
done  their  best,  and  produced  a  harmonious  b'ending  of 
gorgeous  colors  and  gilding  on  the  walls,  columns,  cornices, 
and  elaborate,  paneled  ceiling,  with  its  artistically  arranged 
borders,  and  clusters  of  grapes,  fruits,  and  flowers.  The 
furniture,  carpet,  curtains,  pictures,  chandeliers,  and  orna- 
ments,  are   all   of  the   most  costly   description. 

Three  comparatively  small  apartments  open  to  the 
south  of  this  indescribably  beautiful  room.  Those  at  the 
south-east  and  south-west  ends  are  semi-circular,  and  about 
equal  in  size,  each  of  them  exquisite  in  decoration  and 
furnishings,  while  large  plate  glass  mirrors  cover  the  end 
walls;  stained  glass  windows,  and  numerous  electric  lights 
brilliantly  illuminate  the  rooms. 

The  third  apartment  alluded  to  is  situated  between 
the  two  just  described,  and  elevated  a  few  feet  above  them. 
The  stairway  leading  to  it  from  the  main  room  is  an  elegant 
design,  finished  in  white  and  gold.  The  room  is  circular 
in  form,  with  a  domed  ceiling,  which  is  completely  en- 
circled by  jeweled  windows  that  admit  a  multi-hued 
softened  light.  The  walls  are  artistically  paneled,  red  silk 
velvet  forming  borders;  delicate  blue,  white,  and  gold  pre- 
dominating in  the  shades  of  color.  The  floor  is  inlaid 
with  inch-square  blocks  of  hard  woods,  polished,  the  whole 

11 


forming  a  pattern  of  great  beauty.  A  fitting  adjunct  to  this 
beautiful  room  is  a  large  stained  glass  window,  placed  in 
the  south  side.  It  is  a  work  of  art  of  the  highest  type, 
made  by  the  celebrated  Tiffany  Co.,  and  represents  the 
Father  and  the  Son  appearing  to  the  boy  Joseph  Smith. 
There  is   another  large  window  of  the  same  kind  in  the 

room  adjoining  this  on  the 
west;  the  subject  represent- 
ed being  the  delivery  of  the 
Book  of  Mormon  to  Joseph 
Smith  by  the  angel  Moroni. 
Still  another  window,  in  a 
hall  on  the  same  floor,  depicts 
the  expulsion  of  Adam  and 
Eve  from  the  Garden  of  Eden. 
The  eastern  front  doors  of 
the  Temple  are  on  this  floor, 
and  they  open  into  hallways 
which  lead  to  a  series  of  re- 
ception rooms,  beautifully 
decorated  and  furnished,  and 
to  the  granite  stairways  in 
the  north  and  south  towers. 
Ascending  to  the  second  story  of  the  Temple,  by  the 
south  stairway,  v*-e  reach  a  landing  from  which  we  proceed 
westward,  and  then  find  ourselves  in  a  corridor  on  each 
side  of  which  are  a  number  of  apartments,  suitably  fur- 
nished, and  decorated  in  excellent  style,  for  the  use,  sev- . 
erally,  of  the  First  Presidency,  the  Twelve  Apostles,  first 
seven  Presidents  of  Seventies,  Stake  Presidencies  and 
High  Councils,  and  various  quorums  of  Elders,  etc.  The 
members  of  these  Church  organizations  hold  prayer  and 
council  meetings  in  the  respective  rooms  assigned  to  them 
in  the  Temple.  Many  choice  paintings,  and  portraits  of 
distinguished  men  of  the  Church,  adorn  the  walls  of  these 
rooms. 

Again  ascending  a  granite  stairway,  in  one  of  the  cor- 
ner towers,  we  reach  the  third  story  of  the  Temple  and  enter 


12 


the  general  assembly  room.  It  is  one  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  long,  eighty  feet  wide,  and  thirty-six  feet  high.  It 
occupies  the  entire  width  of  the  interior  of  the  building,  and 
is  lighted  by  the  two  upper  rows  of  windows,  on  both  sides. 
It  is  a  grand  and  beautiful  room,  with  a  splendid  gallery 
on  each  side.  Several  rows  of  finely  upholstered  seats 
are  located  at  the  east  end,  under  an  ornate  canopy,  for 
the  presiding  authorities  of  the  Church  and  other  leading 
representatives  holding  the  Melchisedec  Priesthood.  A 
similar  arrangement  of  seats  is  provided  at  the  west  end 
for  the  Presiding  Bishopric,  Bishops,  and  representative 
men  holding  the  Aaronic  Priesthood.  The  seats  in  the 
body  of  the  hall  are  reversible,  that  the  audience  may  turn 
toward  either  of  the  stands  occupied  by  the  speakers.  The 
entire  seating  capacity  is  about  2,000  persons.  A  great 
number  of  electric  lights  surround  the  cornice,  and  there 
are  five  large  chandeliers,  providing  as  brilliant  a  light  at 
night  as  in  the  day. 

A  further  ascent  of  the  granite  stairway  brings  us  on 
a  level  with  the  roof  of  the  Temple,  whereon  there  is  a 
broad  promenade,  from  which  an  entrancing  view  of  the 
city,  valley,  mountains,  and  lake,  may  be  obtained.  From 
that  position  the  electric  light  finials  on  the  capstones  of 
the  five  towers  can  be  noted,  and  a  good  view  can  be  had 
also  of  the  statue  of  Moroni,  crowned  with  a  100-candle 
power  electric  light. 

The  entire  edifice,  with  all  its  details  of  furnishings, 
etc.,  and  including  the  annex,  boiler-house,  machinery  room, 
etc.,  has  cost  about  $4,000,000. 

It  was  completed,  in  all  essential  respects,  on  the  5th  of 
April,  1893;  and  was  dedicated  on  the  following  day. 
The  many  thousands  of  Latter-day  Saints  who  had  contri- 
buted money  or  labor,  often  involving  self-denial  and  sacri- 
fices such  as  will  never  be  told,  could  not  all  participate  in 
the  first  day's  dedicatory  services,  consequently  those  ser- 
vices were  repeated  twice  daily,  for  three  weeks,  until  about 
70,000  people  had  been  made  glad  in  beholding  the  realiza- 
tion of  their  long  cherished  hopes,  and  joined  in  shouting 

13 


"Hosanna  to   God   and   the  Lamb"  in  the  great  assembly 
room  of  the  Temple. 

NON-MEMBERS   ADMITTED. 

An  erroneous  idea  prevails,  and  it  is  often  asserted, 
that  none  but  members  of  the  Church  have  ever  been 
admitted  to  the  Temple.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1893,  when, 
as  before  stated,  the  Temple  was  completed  in  all  essential 
respects,  over  600  non-"Mormon"  residents  of  Salt  Lake 
City  accepted  an  invitation  extended  to  them,  by  the 
Presidency  of  the  Church,  entered  the  Temple  and  freely 
examined  every  portion  of  the  interior.  These  ladies  and 
gentlemen  included  clergymen  of  all  the  denominations 
represented  in  Salt  Lake  City,  professional  men,  bankers, 
merchants,  judges,  and  federal  oflBcials,  with  their  wives, 
sons,  and  daughters.  Qualified  attendants  escorted  those 
visitors  through  the  various  rooms  in  the  Temple,  from 
basement  to  roof,  answered  inquiries,  and  gave  every 
one  ample  opportunity  to  see  all  they  desired.  Many  of 
those  ladies  and  gentlemen  can  therefore  verify  the  de- 
scription given  in  the  preceding  pages,  concerning  the  in- 
terior arrangements  of  the  building.  There  have  been 
no  changes  made  since  then. 

Since  the  final  services  connected  with  the  dedication 
of  the  Temple,  none  but  members  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  in  good  standing,  have  been 
permitted  to  enter,  for  reasons  which  considerate  people 
will  readily  concede  are  sufficient  and  satisfactory.  That 
those  reasons  may  be  better  appreciated,  a  brief  state- 
ment is  here  given  concerning  Temples  of  ancient  times 
that  are  mentioned  in  the  Jewish   Scriptures. 

HISTORICAL  TEMPLES. 

Dictionary  definitions  of  Temples  include  the  follow- 
ing: "A  holy  sanctuary;"  "An  edifice  erected  in  honor 
of  Deity;"   "A   place   in   which   the   Divine   Presence   spe- 

14 


cially  resides."  God  spoke  to  Adam  in  the  garden  of  Eden, 
and  thus,  as  the  poet  Bryant  says,  "The  groves  were  God's 
first  Temples."  He  selected  the  top  of  Mount  Sinai  on 
which  to  abide  while  making  His  decrees  known  to 
Israel.  But,  it  seems  that,  whenever  circumstances  would 
permit,  the  chosen  people  have  always  been  required  to 
erect  special  and  suitable  edifices  wherein  to  perform 
sacred  rites,  ceremonies,  and  ordinances  acceptable  to  the 
Father,  that  can  not  be  performed  elsewhere,  and  where 
His  Presence  would  be  manifest. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  children  of  Israel 
had  a  primitive  structure  of  that  character  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  and  that  they  carried  with  them  such  portions  of  it 
as  were  portable  when  they  fled  into  the  wilderness. 
There  is  a  detailed  description,  in  Exodus,  of  a  building 
constructed  under  the  direction  of  Moses,  in  accordance 
with  plans  revealed  to  him  by  the  Most  High.  It  was 
called  the  Tabernacle,  and  its  purpose  and  uses  were 
similar  to  those  which  Temples  were  afterwards  devoted 
to.  The  Tabernacle,  therefore,  may  properly  be  regard- 
ed as  a  temporary  Temple,  to  suit  the  unsettled  condition 
of  the  Israelites  at  that  time.  It  was  a  holy  place,  in 
which  the  Lord  communed  with  Moses,  and  wherein  solemn 
assemblages  of  Priests  and  other  worthy  individuals  were 
held,  ordinances  were  performed,  and  the  sacred  vessels, 
furniture,  and  records  were  carefully  guarded. 

Many  years  afterward,  all  the  sacred  things  that  had 
been  faithfully  kept  within  the  Tabernacle,  or  Temple  of 
the  wilderness,  were  transferred  to  the  great  Temple  that 
was  built  by  Solomon,  under  Divine  command,  and  with 
them  also  the  materials  of  which  the  Tabernacle  was  con- 
structed. 

Solomon's  Temple  is  regarded  as  the  grandest  ever 
built  on  this  earth,  and  probably  no  other  has  equalled  it 
in  the  magnificence  and  costliness  of  its  decorations  and 
furnishings.  The  main  building,  however,  was  not  very 
large,  measuring  105  feet  in  length,  35  feet  wide,  and  52 
feet  high.    It  consisted   of  two  halls,   divided  by  a   vail, 

15 


and  was  surrounded  by  chambers  used  by  the  officiating 
Priests.  Before  the  entrance  was  a  portico  210  feet  high. 
Sacrifices  were  not  performed  within  the  Temple,  but  in 
the   courts   surrounding   it. 

The  Lord  accepted  the  Temple  built  by  Solomon,  and 
His  Glory  was  within  and  upon  it;  but,  after  a  few  years, 
the  King  and  people  transgressed  the  laws  of  God:  they 
permitted  the  consecrated  building  to  be  polluted,  and  the 
Divine  Presence  was  withdrawn;  the  Temple  passed  into 
the  hands  of  their  enemies  and  was  despoiled  by  them, 
and  finally  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Another  Temple  was  completed  516  B.  C.,  its  erection, 
having  been  commenced  under  direction  of  Zerubbabel, 
when  the  Jews  were  permitted  to  return  to  Jerusalem,  after 
their  seventy  years  captivity  in  Babj'lon.  This  Temple  was 
on  the  same  general  plan  but  of  larger  dimensions  than 
the  preceding  one;  it  was  greatly  inferior,  however,  in 
its  appointments.  It  did  not  contain  the  Ark  of  the  Coven- 
ant, the  Urim  and  Thummim,  Aaron's  rod,  the  "tables  of 
stone"  on  which  the  commandments  were  inscribed,  nor 
other  most  precious  relics;  those  things  had  been  removed 
from  Solomon's  Temple,  and  hidden  by  faithful  Priests, 
when  it  was  desecrated. 

The  favor  of  God  was  manifest  in  this  Temple  of 
Zerubbabel,  during  the  brief  periods  the  people  observed 
Divine  laws;  but  the  structure  gradually  decayed,  and 
King  Herod,  15  B.  C,  commenced  the  work  of  reconstruc- 
tion and  improvement.  The  main  building  erected  by  him 
was  more  massive  and  much  larger  than  Solomon's  Temple, 
although  the  same  general  plan  was  followed;  and  the 
courts  were  increased  and  greatly  extended.  The  portico 
was  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  long,  thirty-eight 
feet  wide,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  high. 

The  Jews  rejected  and  crucified  the  Messiah,  and 
Herod's  great  Temple  was  totally  destroyed  by  Titus. 
A.  D.  70.  As  predicted  by  Jesus,  "not  one  stone  was  left 
on  another."  This  was  the  last  Temple  erected  on  the  east- 
em  continent,  of  which  we  have  any  record.    The  Book  of 

16 


Mormon  tells  of  numerous  Temples  on  the  western  liemis-^ 
phere,  bulk  by  descendants  of  the  house  of  Israel  who 
came  to  this  land  in  ancient  times,  and  their  Temples 
were  the  same  in  character  as  those  of  the  East. 

EXCLUSIVENESS. 

Unlike  synagogues,  churches,  cathedrals,  and  other 
places  of  worship,  the  Temples  herein  referred  to  were  not 
designed,  and  not  used,  as  places  of  public  assembly  for 
the  people  in  general.  These  Temples  were  reserved  for 
special,  holy  purposes  in  which  only  a  limited  number  of 
the  Priests  and  people  could  participate.  Details  of  the 
services,  rites^  ceremonies,  and  ordinances  performed  in 
the  Temples,  or  the  Tabernacle,  are  not  given  in  the 
Scriptures;  on  the  other  hand,  the  most  minute  details  are 
recorded  concerning  sacrifices  and  ceremonies  performed 
outside  of  those  holy  places.  It  is  presumable,  therefore,, 
that  those  who  were  privileged  to  enter  were  not  permitted 
to  make  known  unto  others  the  nature  of  the  solemn  pro- 
ceedings conducted  therein.  This  is  in  conformity  to  what 
may  properly  be  regarded  as  an  Eternal  law — the  un- 
worthy are  deprived  of  privileges  and  blessings  accorded 
to   the   righteous. 

LATTER-DAY   TEMPLES. 

The  Gospel  proclaimed  by  the  Latter-day  Saints  is- 
the  Gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  its  fullness,  restored 
to  earth  for  the  redemption  of  mankind;  and  it  includes 
all  that  God  has  revealed  that  is  essential  for  the  salvation 
and  exaltation  of  His  children.  Evidently  it  is  His  will  that 
Temples,  sacred  and  holy  places,  should  be  erected,  duly 
dedicated,  accepted  by  Him,  and  kept  pure  and  undefiled, 
where  His  Spirit  may  abide,  and  wherein  ordinances  may 
be  administered  that  can  not  be  performed  elsewhere. 

In  harmony  with  this  known  will  of  God,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  His  command,  the  Latter-day  Saints  have  erected 


Temples  in  this  age.  Not  only  was  this  command  given, 
but  every  requisite  detail  was  revealed,  just  as  it  was  to 
Moses  and  to  Solomon.  This  was  necessary  because  the 
knowledge  thereof  was  lost  to  mankind:  and  further,  the 
law  of  sacrifice  was  superseded,  consequently  the  arrange- 
ments formerly  made  for  complying  therewith  are  no 
longer    needed. 

From  the  time  that  the  vast  importance,  and  glorious 
purposes  involved  in  Temple  building  were  made  known  to 
the  Latter-day  Saints  they  have  considered  no  sacrifice 
too  great  to  comply  with  what  they  feel  sure  is  the 
Divine  will  in  relation  thereto.  This  is  manifest  in  their 
having  already  erected  six  Temples,  each  one  as  grand  in 
structure  and  furnishings  as  it  has  been  possible  to  make 
it,  considering  the  circumstances  of  the  people.  The 
Saints  have  cheerfully  expended  millions  of  dollars  in 
money  and  value  of  labor  in  this  direction,  ungrudgingly 
given,  often  under  most  distressing  conditions,  when  ne- 
cessities were  hardly  obtainable  and  comforts  were  un- 
known. 

The  first  Temple  built  by  the  Latter-day  Saints  was  in 
Kirtland,  Ohio.  It  was  begun  in  July,  1833,  and  completed 
March  26th,  1836,  at  a  cost  of  about  $70,000.  Soon  after  its 
completion  the  Saints  were  compelled  to  abandon  it;  the 
building,    however,    still    remains. 

The  second  Temple  was  erected  by  them  in  Nauvoo, 
Illinois.  The  work  on  it  was  commenced  April  6th,  1841. 
In  the  fall  of  1845,  the  portion  then  completed  was  dedi- 
cated; but  it  was  not  until  April  30th  of  the  following 
year  that  it  was  completely  finished  and  dedicated.  Im- 
mediately thereafter,  a  mob  drove  the  Saints  from  their 
loved  Temple  and  beautiful  city;  and  in  November,  1848, 
the  Temple  was  destroyed  by  incendiaries.  It  cost  over 
$1,000,000. 

The  third  Temple  was  built  in  St.  George,  Utah.  Work 
was  begun  on  it  November  9th,  1871.  and  it  was  finished 
and  dedicated  January  1,  1877.     It  cost  about  $800,000. 

The  fourth   Temple  is  located   in  Logan,   Utah.     The 

IS 


corner  stones  were  laid  September  17,  1877,  and  the  build- 
ing was  dedicated  May  17,  1884.  The  cost  was  about 
$500,000. 

The  fifth  Temple  was  erected  in  Manti,  Utah,  the 
work  on  which  was  commenced  April  14,  1879,  and  it  was 
completed  and  dedicated  on  May  21^  1888.    It  cost  $992,000. 

The  Salt  Lake  Temple  is  the  sixth  that  has  been 
built,  but  the  Latter-day  Saints  anticipate  continuing 
indefinitely  this  gigaztic  labor  of  Temple  building.  They 
have  received  numberless  manifestations  of  Divine  ap- 
proval, and  will  not  cease  their  efforts  to  accomplish  all 
that  is  required  of  them  in  this  direction.  Two  other 
sites  have  been  designated  for  Temples,  one  at  Independ- 
ence, Missouri,  where,  it  is  expected,  the  giandest  one 
of  all  will  be  erected;  the  other  is  at  Far  West,  Missouri. 

LATTER-DAY   SAIN^  CHARACTER. 

History  records  that  the  Jews  and  Romans  sought  to 
justify  themseKes  for  persecuting  t-zid  killing  the  early 
Christians  bj  declaring  that  the  followers  of  Mess'  \  were 
guilty  of  wicked,  immoral,  and  murderous  practices.  In 
this  generation  enemies,  and  ignorant  maligners,  have,  in 
like  manner,  arcused  popular  hatred  .lad  persecution 
against  the  Latter-day  Saints,  by  industriously  circulating 
the  most  abominable  falsehoods  concerning  them,  A.mong 
other  canards  thus  proclaimed  is  that  vile,  blasphemous, 
and  bloodthirsty  ceremonies,  accompanied  by  dreadful 
oaths,  are  and  have  been  prevalent  in  their  Temples.  In 
recent  years,  however,  thousands  of  people,  not  of  their 
faith,  have  met  missionaries  of  the  Church  abroad,  and 
associated  with  its  members  in  Utah  and  elsewhere,  with 
the  result  that  the  character  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  is 
now  better  understood,  and  those  who  have  thus  met  them 
recognize  the  fact  that  the  old  unfavorable  reputation  is 
untrue.  It  is  now  common  to  hear  unprejudiced  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  who  have  had  opportunity  to  become  acquainted 
with  faithful   members  of  the  Church,   declare  that  their 

19 


lives  and  conduct  are  exceptionally  pure,  their  temperance 
and  industry  notable,  and  that  they  come  as  near  as  human 
beings  can  to  loving  God  with  all  their  heart,  and  their 
neighbors  as  themselves. 

Another  old-time  falsehood  concerning  this  formerly 
much-abused  and  misrepresented  community  is  in  process 
of  being  swept  away  in  a  similar  manner.  Their  enemies, 
and  those  who  ignorantly  repeat  the  fabrications,  used  to 
assert  vigorously  that  the  "Mormons"  were  rebellious  and 
treasonable,  and  that  they  desired  the  overthrow  of  th<> 
United  States  Government.  The  fact  is  that  it  has  been 
demonstrated  numberless  times,  in  the  true  history  of 
the  Latter-day  Saints,  that  loyalty  to  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  is  one  of  their  distinguishing  characteristics; 
fathers,  sons,  and  brothers  have  unhesitatingly  risked  their 
lives  to  maintain  its  institutions.  Men  of  the  greatest 
prominence  in  the  community  have  sons  who  have  entered, 
and  continue  to  enter,  the  military  and  naval  academies  of 
the  nation,  that  they  may  qualify  themselves  to  defend 
their  country  in  times  of  danger. 

An  article  of  faith  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  is  that  the- 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  formulated  under 
the  inspiration  of  God.  The  civil,  religious,  and  political 
liberty  guaranteed  by  that  grand  document  to  every  citizen 
of  the  Republic,  is  appreciated  by  the  Saints  as  an  inalien- 
able right  they  are  individually  entitled  to  enjoy;  and  they 
consider  it  their  duty  to  aid  in  protecting  all  others  in 
the  enjoyment  of  its  glorious  provisions. 

Another  part  of  their  creed,  to  which  they  sincerely 
and  honestly  subscribe,  is:  "We  believe  in  being  subject 
to  kings,  presidents,  rulers,  and  magistrates,  in  obeying, 
honoring,  and  sustaining  the  law.  We  believe  in  being 
honest,  true,  chaste,  benevolent,  virtuous,  and  in  doing 
good  to  all  men." 

These  are  the  people  whose  upright  lives  and  ex- 
emplary conduct  earn  for  them  the  privilege  of  entering 
the  House  of  the  Lord,  and  participating  in  the  sacred 
services    and    ordinances    performed    therein.     Scores    of 

21 


thousands  of  them  are  living  witnesses  who  solemnly 
testify  that  everything  said  and  done  in  the  Temples  is 
of  the  most  sublime  character;  pure,  holy,  sacred,  such  only 
as  should  prevail  in  a  place  dedicated  to  the  Most  High. 
There  are  no  individuals  on  the  face  of  the  earth  who 
would  more  quickly  resent  and  denounce  any  effort  to 
make  them  take  part  in  evil  or  unlawful  acts  or  expres- 
sions. They  are  selected  for  the  great  honor  of  entering 
the  Temple  because  that  is  their  character,  and  their 
testimony  is  that  all  they  see  and  hear  therein  has  the 
effect  of  strengthening  their  resolves  to  live  in  accordance 
with  the  commandments  of  God,  to  do  all  the  good  they 
can  to  their  fellow-men.  and  to  sustain  the  laws  of  their 
xxjuntry. 

TEMPLE    CEREMONIES. 

A  question  most  frequently  asked  by  strangers  is: 
What  is  the  nature  of  the  ceremonies  performed  in  the 
Temples  that  causes  such  intense  interest  in  them,  and 
for  which  the  Saints  have  built  these  edifices  at  such 
enormous  cost?  The  first  ceremony  to  be  explained  in 
answer  to  this  query  is  the  one  known  as 

BAPTISM   FOR  THE  DEAD. 

The  mention  of  this  ordinance  usually  excites  surprise 
in  the  minds  of  strangers,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  un- 
known among  other  denominations:  it  is  necessary,  there- 
fore, that  a  statement  be  made  concerning  it. 

The  belief  generally  prevails,  in  Christendom,  that 
the  condition  of  human  souls  is  eternally  and  irrevocably 
fixed,  by  Divine  decree,  immediately  after  death,  each 
individual  being  assigned  to  never-ending  happiness  in 
Heaven,  or  a  limitless  duration  of  torture  in  Hell,  accord- 
ing as  they  have  acknowledged  or  repudiated  belief  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  Latter-day  Saints  declare  that 
this  doctrine  is  erroneous,  and  that  the  Gospel  proclaimed 

22 


by  the  Son  of  God  vindicates  the  justice  and  mercy  of  the 
Father,  in  providing  means  of  redemption  for  those  who 
have  died  without  knowledge  of,  or  opportunity  to  obey, 
the  Gospel  in  this  life. 

The  proposed  limit  of  this  pamphlet  will  admit  only 
a  brief  statement  in  proof  of  this  doctrine,  but  it  is 
recommended  that  all  who  are  interested  in  the  matter 
(and  every  one  certainly  should  be),  should  carefully  read 
some  of  the  treatises  on  the  subject,  that  Jiave  been 
written  by  Elders  of  the  Church.* 

That  baptism  is  essential  to  salvation  is  proved  by  the 

words  of  Jesus,  John  3: 

5.  Jesus  answered.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the 
Spirit,   he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God. 

That  immersion  is  the  proper  mode  is  clearly  shown 

by  Paul  in  his  epistle  to  the  Romans,  chap.  6 : 

3.  Know  ye  not,  that  so  many  of  us  as  were 
baptised  into  Jesus  Christ  were  baptised  into  his 
death? 

4.  Therefore  we  are  buried  with  him  by  bap- 
tism into  death:  that  like  as  Christ  was  raised  up 
from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so 
we  also  should  walk  in  newness  of  life. 

5.  For  if  we  have  been  planted  together  in  the 
likeness  of  his  death,  we  shall  be  also  in  the  like- 
ness of  his  resurrection: 

That  those  who  did  not  receive  the  Gospel  in  life  are 
given  an  opportunity  to  accept  it  after  death  is  demon- 
strated by  the  following  quotations,  I,  Peter  3: 

18.  For  Christ  also  hath  once  suffered  for  sins, 
the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  to 
God.  being  put  to  death  in  the  flesh,  but  quickened 
by  the  Spirit: 

19.  By  which  also  he  went  and  preached  unto 
the  spirits  in  prison; 

20.  Which  sometime  were  disobedient,  when 
once  the  longsuffering  of  God  waited  in  the  days  of 
Noah,  while  the  ark  was  a  preparing,  wherein  few, 
that  is,  eight  souls,  were  saved  by  water. 

I.  Peter,  4: 

6.  For  for  this  cause  was  the  gospel  preached 
also  to  them  that  are  dead,  that  they  might  be 
judged  according  to  men  in  the  flesh,  but  live  ac- 
cording to  God  in  the  spirit, 

♦Elder  B.  H.  Roberts'  brochure  on  "Mormonism"  is  an  ex- 
cellent epitome  of  the  Origin,  History  and  Doctrines  of  the 
Latter-day  Saints. 

23 


That  the  thief  who  repented  on  the  cross,  had  this  op- 
l)ortunity  given  to  him,  after  death,  is  plainly  indicated  in 
-the  words  of  the  Savior  to  him,  Luke  23: 

43.     And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto 
thee.   To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise. 


The  spirit  world,  called  Paradise,  where  the  Savior  and 
the  thief  went  on  the  day  they  were  crucified,  is  not 
Jleaven,  see  John  20: 


17.  Jesus  .saith  unto  her.  Touch  me  not;  for  1 
am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father:  but  go  to  my 
brethren,  and  say  unto  them.  I  ascend  unto  my 
Father,  and  your  Father;  and  to  my  God,  and  your 
God. 


The  ordinance  of  baptism  for  the  dead  was  understood, 
and  performed,  by  the  early  Christians,  as  evidenced  by  the 
words  of  Paul  to  the  Corinthian  saints,  I.  Cor.  15: 


29.  Else  what  shall  they  do  which  are  baptized 
for  the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all?  why  are 
they  then  baptized  for  the  dead? 


The  restoration  of  the  Gospel,  which  is  Goa's  plan  for 
the  redemption  of  all  His  children,  would  not  be  complete 
without  this  ordinance  of  baptism  for  the  dead,  which  ex- 
tends its  saving  power  to  all  who  have  died  without  obey- 
ing that  law  in  life.  Every  principle  and  ordinance  asso- 
ciated with  the  Gospel  plan  of  redemption,  that  has  to  be 
believed  and  obeyed  by  the  living,  to  insure  salvation,  must 
also  be  accepted  by  the  dead.  The  dead,  however,  cannot 
be  baptized  in  the  earthly,  element  of  water,  as  required, 
(John  3,  5),  consequently  that  ordinance  is  performed  for 
them  vicariously,  (I.  Cor.  15,  29).  Other  essential  ordi- 
nances have  to  be  performed  in  like  manner,  and  Temples 
are  the  God-appointed  places  for  such  sacred  work. 

That  vicarious  work  is  acceptable  unto  the  Eternal 
Father  is  evidenced  by  the  accepted  offering  of  His  Son, 

24 


who,  by  His  death,  atoned  for  Adam's  transgression,  and 
will  extend  salvation  to  all  who  obey  His  Gospel. 


MARRIAGE    FOR    ETERNITY. 

The  form  of  marriage  ceremony  generally  performed 
by  Christian  ministers,  and  by  authorized  officials  accord- 
ing to  civil  law,  incorporates  the  statement  that  the  re- 
lationship of  husband  and  wife  is  to  continue  until  death 
parts  them. 

The  Latter-day  Saints  are  made  to  rejoice  in  the  cere- 
mony of  marriage  performed  in  the  Temples,  by  which, 
under  the  authority  held  by  the  one  officiating,  the  man 
and  woman  are  married  for  time  and  for  all  eternity.  The 
same  ordinance  is  performed  in  behalf  of  men  and  women 
who  are  dead. 

No  marriages  of  living  persons  are,  nor  can  be,  per- 
formed without  licenses  duly  issued  therefor  by  county 
clerks  of  the  state. 

Plural  marriages  have  not  been  solemnized  since  the 
issuance  of  the  manifesto  by  the  President  of  the  church 
in  1890. 


"SEALING"  CHILDREN. 

The  Latter-day  Saints  do  not  entertain  the  shadow  of  a 
doubt  concerning  the  validity  and  eternal  character  of 
the  ordinances  performed  in  the  Temple  in  their  behalf, 
or  in  behalf  of  the  dead.  They  have  the  most  convincing 
assurance,  equivalent  to  knowledge,  that  those  ordinances 
are  Divinely  approved.  Their  joy  is  unbounded  in  this 
confident  reliance  upon  a  never-ending  association,  in  the 
resurrected  state,  with  those  to  whom  God  has  united  them 
in  this  life,  and  this  includes  the  children  born  unto  them 
after  that  union.  The  family  organization  is  to  be  for- 
ever perpetuated,  with  happiness  increased  beyond  finite 
•comprehension. 

25 


Children  born  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  under  the  sec- 
tarian or  civil  form  of  ceremony,  which  declares  that  the 
relationship  is  to  exist  only  until  death,  must  remain  un- 
der that  law,  they  and  their  parents  eternally  separated 
after  they  pass  from  this  life,  unless  they  comply  with 
the  ordinance  established  to  perpetuate  the  family  organ- 
ization. This  ordinance  also  is  one  of  the  glorious  pro- 
visions connected  with  Temple  work.  By  Divine  author- 
ity the  husband  and  wife  are  married  for  time  and  all 
eternity,  and,  by  the  same  power,  their  children  are  sealed 
to  them  to  be  theirs  forever,  worlds  without  end. 


CLOSING  COMMENTS. 

This  pamphlet  already  exceeds  the  intended  limit,  and 
much  remains  that  might  be  said  in  regard  to  Temples 
and  Temple  work,  but  this  must  suflBce.  We  now  respect- 
fully ask  the  reader  to  accept  our  solemn  and  truthful  af- 
firmation that  everything  connected  with  Temple  ordi- 
nances is  of  the  most  sublime  character,  and  is  calculated 
to  develop  in  those  who  sincerely  participate  therein  the 
noblest,  the  most  refining,  exalting,  self-sacrificing,  and 
God-like  attributes,  qualifying  them  in  all  respects  for  the 
destined  mission  of  Latter-day  Saints,  the  bringing  to  pass, 
in  due  time,  of  the  long  desired  reign  of  "Peace  on  Earth, 
Good-will  to  Men." 

In  this  utilitarian  age.  wherein  selfishness  predom- 
inates, and  most  people  seem  to  be  striving  only  for  those 
things  that  give  greatest  pleasure  in  this  life,  it  is  diflScult, 
almost  impossible,  to  induce  liiem  to  believe  that  the 
Latter-day  Saints  differ  from  the  rest  of  mankind  in  these 
respects.  But,  here  is  substantial  proof  that  this  differ- 
ence does  exist — the  Temples  they  have  built,  and  the  re- 
markable amount  of  sacred  work  they  perform  therein  in 
behalf  of  their  dead  ancestors,  or  other  relatives,  and 
friends,  involving  constant  and  great  expenditure  of  time 
and  means,  all  without  hope  or  prospect  of  any  earthly 
reward. 

26 


The  existence  of  the  attribute  of  pure  unselfishness, 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who  labor  for  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  the  dead,  is  a  direct  result  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  fol- 
lowing prophecy: 

Malachi  4: 

5.  Behold,  I  *vill  send  you  Elijah  the  prophet 
before  the  coming  of  the  great  and  dreadful  day 
of  the  Lord: 

6.  And  he  shall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers 
to  the  children,  and  the  heart  of  the  children  to 
their  fathers,  lest  I  come  and  smite  the  earth  with 
a  curse. 

The  Latter-day  Saints  justifiably  regard  the  Great 
Temple,  herein  described,  as  positive  evidence  that  divine 
inspiration  prompted  ancient  Israel's  prophet  to  declare: 

Isaiah  2: 

2.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days, 
that  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be' 
established  in  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  shall 
be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  all  nations  shall 
flow  unto  it. 

3.  And  many  people  shall  go  and  say.  Come 
ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord, 
to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob;  and  he  will  teach 
us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths;  for 
out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of 
the  Lord  from  Jerusalem. 


Further  information  can  be  obtained  from  the 
BUREAU    OF    INFORMATION, 
Temple    Block,    Salt    Lake   City,    Utah. 

27 


ARTICLES  OF  FAITH 
Of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 

1.  We  believe  in  God,  the  Eternal  Father,  and  in  His. 
Son,  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

2.  We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their 
own   sins,  and  not  for  Adam's   transgression. 

3.  We  believe  that,  through  the  atonement  of  Christ, 
all  mankind  may  be  saved,  by  obedience  to  the  laws  and 
ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

4.  We  believe  that  the  first  principles  and  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel  are:  First,  Faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
second,  Repentance;  third.  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the 
remission  of  sins;  fourth.  Laying  on  of  Hands  for  the 
Gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

5.  We  believe  that  a  man  must  be  called  of  God,  by 
"prophecy,  and  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,"  by  those  who- 
are  in  authority,  to  preach  the  Gospel  and  administer  in 
the  ordinances  thereof. 

6.  We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed 
in  the  primitive  church,  namely,  apostles,  prophets,, 
pastors,  teachers,  evangelists,  etc. 

7.  We  believe  in  the  gift  of  tongues,  prophecy,  reve- 
lation, visions,  healing,  interpretation  of  tongues,  etc. 

8.  We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God,  as  far 
as  it  is  translated  correctly;  we  also  believe  the  Book  of 
Mormon  to  be  the  word  of  God. 

9.  We  believe  all  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  He 
does  now  reveal,  and  we  believe  that  He  will  yet  reveal 
many  great  and  important  things  pertaining  to  the  King- 
dom of  God. 

10.  We  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel  and 
in  the  restoration  of  the  Ten  Tribes.  That  Zion  will  be 
built  upon  this  continent.  That  Christ  will  reign  person- 
ally upon  the  earth,  and  that  the  earth  will  be  renewed 
and  receive  is  paradisical  glory. 

11.  W^e  claim  the  privilege  of  worshiping  Almighty- 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  our  conscience,  and  allow 
all  men  the  same  privilege,  let  them  worship  how,  where 
and  what  they  may. 

12.  We  believe  in  being  subject  to  kings,  presidents, 
rulers  and  magistrates,  in  obeying,  honoring  and  sustaining 
the  law. 

13.  We  believe  in  being  honest,  true,  chaste,  benevo- 
lent, virtuous,  and  in  doing  good  to  ALL  ]MEN;  indeed  we 
may  say  that  we  follow  the  admonition  of  Paul,  "We  be- 
lieve all  things,  we  hope  all  things,"  we  have  endured 
many  things,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  endure  all  things.  If 
there  is  anything  virtuous,  lovely,  or  of  good  report  or 
praiseworthy,  we  seek  after  these  things. 


TO  ALL  POINTS 


ic  Oaif  Transcontineotai 
le  Throui^h  Salt  Lake 


i 


